Contractor allowed to have yard

Friday

Jul 7, 2017 at 10:32 AM

Kortny Hahn Staff Writer, @khahnCDT @khahnCDT

Francis Dubois was approved to have a contractor's yard on his property on both Soules Road and Montgomery Road in Walker Township, as long as all of the equipment is kept behind the natural tree line.

A special use permit was required for Dubois to have such a facility in the Agriculture and Forestry Management zoning district.

"The main requirements, in addition to the standard special use permit requirements for contractor's yards are that the property or properties be greater than or equal to 10 acre parcels, 330 feet of frontage lot width, 100 feet of front setback and 75 feet of side and rear setbacks," said Cheboygan County Community Development Director Steve Schnell.

Also, the equipment that is to be stored in the contractor's yard also has to be screened from public view. This can be done with an evergreen hedge or some sort of natural or manmade buffer. The property also needs to be occupied by the owner.

There are two properties owned by Dubois, forming an L shaped piece of property, where he wants to have the contractor's yard located. His home is on the south side of the property and there is a fenced entrance as well. The area on the property that is eligible to hold the equipment in the contractor's yard does meet the 100 foot front setback due a natural tree line already on the property along Montgomery Road.

"In addition to that, I think the site plan itself indicates some of the screening that's intended to be used," said Schnell. "I don't think there's anything else additional that I have."

Everything else on the property meets the additional requirements that had been set in place as well as all the other minimum requirements under the zoning ordinance.

"It's pretty cut and dry," said Dubois.

Dubois does not plan on constructing any buildings in the contractor's yard for the maintenance on any of the equipment that will be stored there. Also, with there being a natural screening of all the trees currently on the property, the public will not be able to see the equipment stored in the yard.

There are also no plans on having anything stored between the tree line and Montgomery Road, to make sure he complies with all of the regulations.

This matter was brought before the Cheboygan County Planning Commission as a matter of enforcement, due to a complaint that was received by a neighbor. However, due to Dubois meeting all of the requirements for the special use permit, the planning commission board voted unanimously to approve the permit.

Dubois also owns the property that surrounds the contractor's yard for at least another half mile down Montgomery Road.

"He owns the whole piece behind it, so there's no negative impact to rear neighbors anyway," said Planning Commission member Mike Kavanaugh. "I think with it set back behind those trees, it's a good buffer, he's got a lot of room there, he wants to move it back there, I think if we do that, it's a good spot, no problems. That's what my thoughts are."

Also at the meeting, the board quickly reviewed the Cheboygan County Capital Improvement Program draft program report, which outlined the capital improvement projects for the upcoming years. Since they have been through the report several times, the board voted unanimously to hold a public hearing to gain the public's input on the program and projects at its Aug. 2 meeting.